Up to 70% of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). OSAS is responsible for laryngeal sensory impairment. As the afferent neural pathway involved in the initiation of cough is located in the laryngeal epithelium, cough reflex sensitivity may be decreased in obese OSAS patients. The researchers therefore conducted this study to determine the effect of OSAS associated with obesity on cough reflex sensitivity, assessed by cough reflex threshold to an inhaled irritant (citric acid).